Comic Book Reviews for July 8, 2010

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Second Coming hits its climax, Shadowland debuts, and the Scarlet Witch returns in a week of huge releases.

By Rich, Dan, Jesse, Kevin, & Miguel

Every so often we like to shake things up in the IGN Comics stable. You've seen us do it with the Weekly Buyer's Guide and you've no doubt noticed us constantly tweaking our slate of features. More recently you probably noticed we shifted to a 0.5 increment for our review scores rather than the 0.1 standard we had been using. Now we're shaking things up again.

Our reviews will now come in one of two formats – the lengthier form you've been reading for years and then what we're calling a "quick take" review. These shorter takes (and their scores) will be available in their entirety in our core reviews article. Lengthier reviews will continue to need a click to view the full analysis.

The reasons for these changes are many, but the simplest and biggest reason is simply this – we monitor what you read. Every week the big names receive the bulk of your attention and comments. However we realize that you still like to have an idea of what else is out there, even if you don't want to read an extensive analysis. Thus – our new approach.

No doubt we'll miss some big developments that catch us by surprise. No doubt there will be some weeks where we can't get to every single big release. But in the long run, we feel this will be the best of both worlds, a way to bring you a lot of reviews while still drilling into some of the most important franchises in the industry. As always, we welcome your comments.

Batman and Robin #13Written by Grant Morrison | Art by Frazer Irving

QUICK TAKE: "Batman and Robin #13 very well might be the best Batman comic Grant Morrison has written to date. The issue marks the culmination of so much of what Morrison has been leading towards since taking over the reins of the Dark Knight several years ago, building to a crescendo of shocking, downright frightening events that'll shatter your expectations and leave you desperate for more. Doubling back on everything from "Batman RIP" to his and Frank Quitely's first arc on this title, to the Joker's long, violent history with Robins, it reads like a confluence of pay-offs that are as inevitable as they are devastating. And boy, if that one Damian sequence doesn't prove to you why he's one of the coolest characters in comics, nothing will.

"Much of the issue's power is due to the art of Frazer Irving, who's the best thing to happen to this title since Frank Quitely departed after issue #3. Irving makes each unsettling image even creepier, and each turn of events all the more powerful. His storytelling is impeccable, and the haunting atmosphere he brings to each panel is invaluable in helping the story cast its spell. Batman fans, beware: with Irving at his side, already it looks like Morrison is ready to unleash his greatest Batman story yet." - Dan

Final Score9.5Outstanding

Batman: Odyssey #1Written by Neal Adams | Art by Neal Adams

QUICK TAKE: "Neil Adams' Batman: Odyssey is an absolute train wreck of a comic, so much so that it manages to ruin the visceral thrill of seeing Neil Adams once again drawing Batman. It's proof that some artists, no matter how great, are entirely incapable of writing their own stories. It's impossible to read this mess and not wish Adams had brought frequent collaborator Denny O'Neil along for the ride. Perhaps then we'd have something greater than a nonsensical series of poorly told occurrences.

"Where to start? Adams' dialogue is abysmal, his storytelling awkward and unclear, many of his decisions completely inexplicable. Why is Dick Grayson dressed in Tim Drake's uniform? Where the hell did Man-Bat come from, and what the hell does he have to do with any of this? For that matter, what do any of the seemingly unconnected things that happen in this book have to do with the others? This comic is awful. It's as if Neil Adams forgot everything he knew about the craft of comics during his time away from the form. I can't remember being this disappointed by a comic. It might look pretty in places, but it reads like the work of an amateur. " - Dan

Final Score4.0Poor

Brightest Day #5Written by Geoff Johns & Pete Tomasi | Art by Various

QUICK TAKE: "After months of waiting, we're finally treated to an Aquaman story that isn't just spinning its wheels. But even though it centered on the king of Atlantis, the bombshell regarding Mera's origins is what stole the show. After her pivotal role in Blackest Night, I've been clamoring to find out more about the character and her back story.

"In perhaps the biggest surprise of the issue, Geoff Johns and Peter Tomasi manage to capture and sustain my attention during their Hawkman and Hawkgirl story by delivering some gruesome action and introducing an intriguing twist regarding their latest resurrection and encounter with the black rings. And throwing in savage anthropomorphic cats and birds are a guaranteed win in my book. The only clunker this time around turned out to be the Deadman sections since absolutely nothing new was learned or explored. His segment ended on an interesting note, but I'd be more excited if it involved a character I actually cared about. Ramping up the action and deepening the mystery surrounding the two storylines that were considerably weaker in previous installments easily ranks this as the best single issue of Brightest Day so far. " - Miguel